A Marker???

[DAS7NY]

I'm new to this whole thing. Last June I bought a Whites Prizim something. I used it about 3-4 time last year and got tons of false reading but never thought anything of it. Well today my Dad and I went to check out an old legend. Supposedly in a certain set of woods a bunch of revolutionary soldiers hid in a natural hole from british troops. This is just a legend but I thought this would be a cool place so we decided to check it out. The second we got into the woods I was getting tons of false readings so I decided I'd take it down to the local metal detecting store sometime this week. We then just decided we would focus on finding the trail this hole was off of and to find the hole. Well while walking we found a trail. While on the trail we found where we think the hole was. (There's just 2 possible locations and they are pretty close to each other) We decided to survey the site as it is pretty large. We hiked to the top of a hill and found a pallet next to a tree. There was also a piece of cement in the ground. At first it looked like a foundation so I got mad excited! Then I realized it was just a pole. I decided to dig because my Dad suggested it may be a marker. The both of us started to dig but the pole kept going. We dug around it and finally about 2 - 3 feet down we pulled the cement pole out. We thought at first maybe there was something under it but there wasn't. We dug another 4-6 inches and then one of our shovels broke. The both of us agree it is most likely a marker for something. Because why would anyone bring a heavy and long cement pole so deep into the woods? Also why would anyone bury it in so far and make it so long? Maybe they wanted it to stay there because they left something near by and would use that to help them recover it. We are going to go back next weekend and look for A. Any other markers, B. To metal detect the hole where the soldiers should've hid (If the legend is true) C. To keep digging in that spot to see if we find anything. I hope to find out what I am doing wrong or what is wrong w/ my metal detector. What are your opinions of this cement in the middle of some deep woods? <a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/DAS7NY/?action=view&current=DSCF0971.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/DAS7NY/DSCF0971.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

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[drodda777]

Most USGS markers were placed int he 20's and 30's. The wood with the little orange flag is just a piece of lathe wiith ribbon tied on and writing to explane what the found marker is. The actual marker can be almost anything that is usually located underground or at ground level that the lathe is placed next to. Most current markers are 30" long rebar with yellow ,orange, red caps with a number stamped in the top to tell you the License number of the surveyor that placed the marker there.

The one you found is definately a survey marker placed some time ago by the way it looks. Sometimes there is a disk on the top that has letters and numbers and sometimes this disk is missing. If you go to the local recorders office you can probably find a survey recorded that will refereence the marker you just destroyed. When I say destroyed, I mean you made it unusable by diggin it up. Many times you can find reference points to the marker on nearby trees, fence posts, or other objects. The usually make three reference ties that allow someone who can't find the monument a chance to recreate it by triangulation from the ties. This is usuually recorded also at the local county engineers office.

 

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[DD-777]

Let's give the kid a break now. We all did stupid things when we were younger - some knowingly and some unknowingly.

For future reference DAS7NY - the next time you find something like this - leave it be. I would definitely search the area if you have researched some history there, but leave anything that remotely looks similar to what you found alone. If you live in Suffolk - head up to the Smithtown area and definitely Cold Spring Harbor. Just research and absolutely GET PERMISSION wherever you go. Good luck buddy...

 

[Mental Granny]

For a Newbie the Best advice I can give you is Get Permission no ,matter where it is.
Next when you dig Fill all holes back in Do Not rebury trash. And Carry Out All Trash leave the area better than you found it. If you dig something that your not sure if it is trash or a keeper ask some one we all will help with that my grandson always asks if its not can slaw and when you got the permission and you go rehunt that site post we would love to see your finds.